Operating mechanism for awning type windows



Aug. 25, 1942. T. I. MOSELEY OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOWS Filed May 20, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FEE-4' INVENTOR. ToMu/vso/v I. Mesa/.5)

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A TTORNEY 1942- T. l. MOSELEY 2,293,944

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOWS A TTORNEY 1942- T. I. MOSELEY 2,293,944

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOWS Filed May 20, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

TOML/NSON 1'. MOSELEY A TTORNEY 1942- 'r. I. MOSELEY 2,293,944

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOWS Filed May 20, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 76M; INSON 1T .MbSELE Y az /am' ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1942. T. 1. MOSELEY OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AWNING TYPE WINDOWS Filed May 20, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. TOMLINSON f. MOSELEY Qea/VQ ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, W4

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AWNING TYPE WIN OWS Tomlinson I. Moseley, San Francisco, Calif assignor to MacDonald San Francisco, Calif.,

ing (30.,

Hardware Manufactura copartnersh-ip 3 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my pending application entitled Window construction," filed December 3, 1938, and bearing Serial No. 243,803.

This invention relates generally to windows of the type making use of a plurality of sashes carried by a single frame. It is particularly concerned with automatic mechanism by means of which the sashes can be moved between open and closed positions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a window of the above character having improved automatic mechanism for securing a definite cycle of operation upon manual manipulation of one of the sashes.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the above character which will occupy a relatively small amount of space in the frame of the window, and with all operating parts adequately housed and enclosed when the sashes are in closed position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an awning type window of the above character having improved automatic mechanism for securing a definite cycle of operation upon manual manipulation of one of the sashes, wherein initial opening of the lower sash within predetermined limits will operate the upper sashes in unison therewith, both in opening and closing, but wherein opening of the lower sash to a position beyond said predetermined limits will condition said mechanism to enable the lower sash to close, while leaving the upper sashes in open position, but capable of being reengaged upon subsequent opening of the lower sash to an amount substantially equal to that of the upper sashes so that all of the sashes will then move to closed position in unison.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a window incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in a different operating position.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

upon the one sash.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail illustrating the construction of one of the shoes utilized in the mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing one of the travel bars for cooperating with the shoe of Fi 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the cam or trip lever used in conjunction with the mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in a further operating position.

Fig. 11 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary view of a modified form of the apparatus shown in the preceding figures and illustrating the constructiiosn and relationship of the clutching mechan m.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the operating sash moved to the full open extent which it may assume and still operate the other sash or sashes in unison therewith.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 11 and 12 with the exception that it shows the lower sash moved to a position ating mechanism to permit the lower sash to be closed without affecting the position of the upper sash or sashes. I

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the shoes utilized in the mechanism and of the lower end of the travel bar constructed for use in connection with the form of the'i device illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive. .1

Preliminary to a detailed description of the window as illustrated in the drawings, it can be pointed out that my window has an automatic cycle of operation in which initial movement of one sash to open position causes opening movementof all of the sashes. Subsequent manual closing of the one sash leaves all the other sashes in open position. Thereafter upon again opening the one sash, mechanism is automatically reengaged whereby all of the sashes can now be swung to closed position by manual force In general the mechanism employed to secure this cycle of operation makes use of travel bars together with clutching mechanism serving to operably connect the travel bars to the one manually operated sash. A lever effects automatic disengagement of the clutching mechanism, and this lever operates by shifting the travel bars laterally of the plane of the frame.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

which conditions the oper-' window consists of a suitable rectangular frame ll, which is normally mounted within the wall ll of a building. The frame serves to carry a plurality of sashes I2, l3 and I4 for swinging movement between open and closed positions. The number of swinging sashes employed may vary in accordance with requirements. In some instances more than three sashes will be required, while in other cases two sashes will suflice. Where two sashes are employed they may be spaced a substantial distance apart with an intermediate panel or independently mounted sash between them. While the type of swinging movement employed may be modified it is preferably about a generally horizontal axis. In the embodiment illustrated all of the sashes are shown swinging outwardly to open position, although it is apparent that they may all swing inwardly, or some may swing outwardly and others inwardly. The type of frame illustrated is formed of wood although other materials can be employed, as for example suitable steel structural members. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the frame includes the main vertical framing members l6, theinner and outer edges of which carry the finishing or cover strips I1 and IS. The inner face l9 of each member 6 is provided with a vertical groove 2| to accommodate vertically extending metal channels 22. As will be presently explained certain of the working parts of the window are slidably mounted within a channel 22 so that the channels in effect form guide-Ways. When all of the sashes are mounted for outward swinging movement to open the same, the sash jambs may be formed by strips 23 extending the full height of the window frame. serve to enclose certain of the working parts. Side members 24 of the sashes are adapted to engage one vertical edge of each strip 23 when closed, and in order to afford better weather proofing complementary rabbetting is shown in the side sash members 24 and the frame member ii to afford the contacting surfaces 26 and 21.

To mount the sashes for the type of swinging movement desired the side edges of each sash are provided with sash plate 28, the upper ends of which aiford projecting and, laterally extending arms or brackets 29. Two support arms or links 38 are also provided for each sash. The upper end of each link 38 has a pivotal connection 3| with the corresponding sash plate 28, while the lower end of each link 30 has a pivotal connection 32 with a plate 33, which in turn is fastened to the corresponding side framing member l6.

The brackets or arms 29 for each sash are pivotally connected to shoes, which in turn are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the channels 22. Thus referring to Figs. 2 or 3, arms 29 for the sash H are shown provided with pivotal connections 34, to the shoes 36. The sash l3 has its brackets 29 pivotally connected to shoes 31, which are likewise slidably disposed within the channels 22. The uppermost sash l2 has a shoe 31 corresponding to that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, mounted in a like manner within the channel 22.

Extending vertically through each channel 22 there is a travel bar 38. Each travel bar is formed of two sections 38a and 38b with the lower section 38a extending through the corresponding lower shoe 36. The upper end of each travel bar section 38a has a pivotal connection 39 to the plate 40, and this plate is slotted to receive the These strips also 1 screws or bolts 4|, which serve to form an adjustable connection to the lower end of the associated travel bar section 38b. Each travel bar section 38b has adjustable connections 42 to the shoe 31 for the sash l3 and a like connection to the shoe for the uppermost sash l2. Thus the lower travel bar sections 38:: may swing in a plane at right angles to the plane of the window frame, and vertical movements of both travel bar assemblies causes unison opening and closing movements of the uppermost sashes l2 and I3. The two uppermost shoes 31 can be of any suitable design, as for example in the form of channels with the flanges of each channel extending inwardly for sliding engagement with the sides of the channel 22.

The lower shoes 36 are capable of clutching engagement with the lower ends of the travel bar sections 38a, and can be formed substantially as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thus in this case each shoe includes a back wall 44 connected to the side flanges 46, and proportioned so that the side flanges 46 will fit between the sides of the vertical channel 22 for sliding movement. Fixed to the inner face of one of the flanges 46, there is a block or lug 41. Spring fingers 5| are attached to the inner flange 46, as by means of a rivet 49. These spring fingers press against One edge of a corresponding travel bar section 38a in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The manner in which the lower end of each travel bar section 38a is formed, to cooperate with shoes 36, is as illustrated in Fig. 7. Thus the lower end of each travel bar section 38a is provided with an abutment shoulder 52, which extends inwardly towards the sash. Above the shoulder 52, one edge of the bar is provided with a notch 53, dimensioned to accommodate the lug or block 41. Above the notch 53 the same edge of the travel bar is provided with a notch 54, to cooperate with a cam lever to be presently described.

Upon the inner face of each framing member 16, there is a metal housing 56 (Fig. 8) which encloses and forms a pivotal mounting 51 for the lever 53. A shoulder 59 on the housing 55 serves as a stop against rotation of lever 58 in one direction (counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8). Each lever 58 is provided with a projecting pin 6|, for engaging one edge of the corresponding travel bar section 38a, and for cooperating with the notch 54 previously described.

Each of the levers 58 has two operating positions, one in which it is swung upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3, and a second in which it is swung downwardly substantially to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, at which time the center of pin 6| is slightly below the center of pivotal mounting 51. Lever 58 is also in the path of movement of. the associated sliding shoe 36. Thus when the corresponding shoe 36 is moved up wardly to its limiting position shown in Fig. 3, the final part of such movement is accompanied by engagement and raising of the associated lever 58. It will be noted that each housing 56 is offset as indicated at 63 (Fig. 8) in order to accommodate the upper end portion of the corresponding shoe 36.

Operationof the window described above can now be explained as follows: The positioning of the parts for closed position of all of the sashes is shown in Fig. 3. At that time the two shoes for the lowermost sash I4 are in their upper limiting positions, and the two travel bars are also in their uppermost positions. The lower ends of the travel bar sections 38a extend through the lever shoes 36, that is between the side flanges 46. Likewise the shoulders 52 on the travel bar sections 35a engage the lower ends of shoes 35 (see Fig. 9). The spring fingers press the lower ends of travel bar sections 38a to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, and each lug 41 is accom modatedin the associated slot 53. Each lever 58 is in its raised or tripped position, with the pin 6| resting within the notch 54.

To carry out an opening movement the operator grasps a handle secured to the lower sash and swings this sash outwardly. Initial part of such opening movement causes downward swinging of each lever 58,. with the result that the lower ends of the travel bar sections 38a are swung in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame, against the spring fingers 5i. Such lateral shifting of the travel bars causes disengagement or de-clutching oi notches 53 with respect to blocks or lugs 41. sash causes unison opening of the upper sashes, because of engagement between the lower ends of shoes 36 and the travel bar shoulders52. Such opening movement may continue to intermediate or full open positions. The operator may now swing the lowermost sash to closed position in which event the lower shoes 36 slide upwardly without however causing any upward movement of the travel bars, because of the fact that these bars are disengaged with respect to the lugs 41. For the final closing movement of the lower sash the upper ends of shoes 35 contact and trip the levers 58, in the manner previously described, thereby permitting the spring fingers St to urge the lower sections of the travel bars directly against the lugs 41, thus permitting re-engagement with lugs 41 immediately upon establishing alignment between these lugs and notches 53. If the operator now desires to close the upper sashes, the lower sash is again swung outwardly to substantially the angle of the initial opening movement. This serves to bring lugs 41 on shoes 36 into registry with notches 53, whereby the lower bar sections 38a snap into engagement with notches 41 under the urge of springs 5!. Now as the lower sash is swung back to closed position the travel bars move upwardly and cause closing movement of the upper sashes.

In Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form of the mechanism which was illustrated and described in connection with the previous figures. In Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, I disclose a window construction by means of which the lower sash will operate the upper sashes in unison, both in opening and closing movement, up to a predetermined degree of opening of the lower sash. After this predetermined degree of opening of the lower sash is reached, further opening movement of the lower sash conditions the mechanism so as to disconnect the lower sash from the upper sashes to enable the former to be closed, while leaving the latter in open position. Thereafter, by opening the lower sash to an angle substantially the same as that of the open upper sashes, the lower sash is reconnected to the upper sashes so as to enable them to be moved in unison to a closed position.

This type of window has a very useful place in the field of awning type windows, in that in some cases it is very desirable that all the sashes be opened and closed in unison when only a slight amount of opening is required. It has the further advantage of insuring the fact that all the sashes, when apparently in closed posi- However, opening of the lower the lower ends of the '36. That is to say, the travel .merely changing tion, will be locked against opening. In some types of prior awning type windows of the socalled automatic type, it is possible to open the lower sash a slight amount and then move it to closed position and manually move the upper sashes to closed position, giving the appearance that all of the sashes are locked in closed position, whereas, as a matter of fact, the upper sashes are not lock d in closed position but may be opened from the exterior of the building and entrance to the building thereby effected.

To effect this novel operation of the window mechanism disclosed in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, I substitute for the notch 54 in the travel bars 38 an elongated notch 54a which is in eflect a long recess in the edges of the travel bars. Otherwise the mechanism is identical to the mechanism disclosed in the previous figures of the drawings and previously described herein. However, by providing the elongated notch or recess 54a, initial opening movement of the lower sash will not be accompanied by de-clutching the travel bars from the shoes because the levers 58 will not be caused to moved to a position swinging the travel bars to disengage the notches 53 from the lugs or blocks 41 in the lowermost shoes bars may move downwardly a distance equal to the length of the elongated notches or recesses 54a without being shifted to a position disengaging the 54a be sufiicient to enable the sashes to be opened to an angle of approximately twenty degrees without de-clutching the travel bars from the lower shoes 35. However, it is obvious that by the length of the elongated notches or recesses 5411, the angle of opening during which all the sashes will close in unison may be such as desired.

However, I desire to point out that after the lower sash has been opened the predetermined amount permitted by the length of the elongated notches or recesses 54a, continued opening movement of the lower sash will be accompanied by de-clutching of the travel bars from the lower shoes 35 so that thereafter the operation of the mechanism will be the same as described in connection with the mechanism disclosed in the previous figures of the drawings and previously described herein.

In general, this is that upon continued opening I movement of the lower sash beyond the predeterminedangle during which all of the sashes will be opened and closed in unison, the engage-v ment between the sides of the travel bars and the pins on the levers 58 will cause downward swinging of the levers 58, with the result that will be swung in a direction laterally of the p ane of the frame against the spring fingers 5|. This lateral shifting of the travel bars ca ses disengagement or de-clutching of the nctcbes 53 wi h respect to the blocks or lugs 41. As previously described, this enables the lower sash then to be swung to closed position independently of the travel bar because the shoes 36 may move upwardly relative to the travel bars.

As previously described, the final closing movement of the lower sash causes the upper ends of the shoes 36 to contact and trip the levers 58,

travel bar sections 3811..

thereby permitting the spring fingers 5| to urge the lower sections of the travel bars directly against the lugs 41, thus permitting re-engagement with the lugs 41 immediately upon establishing alignment between these lugs and the notches 53.

If the operator desires to close the upper sashes, the lower sash is again swung outwardly to substantially the angle of the upper sashes. This serves to bring the lugs 41 'on the shoes 35 into register with the notches 53. The springs 5| then move the travel bars laterally to engage the lugs 41 and the notches 53 so that when the lower sash is swung to closed position, the travel bars will move upwardly causing closing of all of the sashes in unison.

I desire to emphasize, however, that during a predetermined initial angle of opening movement of the lower sash, all of the sashes will remain connected together due to the fact that the elongated notches or recesses 54a will enable the travel bars to remain clutched to the lower shoes 36 during such opening movement, and consequently all the sashes will open and close in unison throughout that angle of opening.

Therefore, by means of the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, I have provided an automatic window in which the cycle of operation in such that it permits all of the sashes to be opened and closed in unison during an initial angle of opening and thereafter to be automatic in operation to enable the lower sash to be closed. while leaving the upper sash or sashes in open position, and to enable closing of all of the sashes in unison by subsequently opening the lower sash to an angle approximating that of the upper sash or sashes, which causes a reconnection between the three sashes.

While I have illustrated and described my improved window operating mechanism in detail, it is to be understood that various changes in the construction may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a multiple sash window, a frame, at least two sashes carried by the frame for swinging movement, and means serving to interconnect said sashes for an automatic cycle of operation responsive to manually swinging one sash, said means including a pair of slidable travel bars mounted in the sides of the frame and connected to the second sash, a pair of shoes slidably mounted in the sides of the frame and operably connected to the one sash, whereby the shoes move longitudinally of the sides of the frame as the one sash is moved between open and closed positions, means for establishing clutching engagement between edge portions of the travel bars and said shoes, springs carried by said shoes and serving to urge the portions of said travel bars in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame,

and in a direction to effect engagement of said clutching means, and means serving to shift said portions of the travel bars in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame to effect partial disengagement of said clutch means, said last means operating responsive to initial opening movement of one sash.

2. In a multiple sash window, a frame, at least two sashes carried by the frame one above the other, for swinging movement upon horizontal axes, and means serving to interconnect said sashes for an automatic cycle of operation, said means including a pair of vertically extending travel bars slidably mounted in the sides of the frame, said travel bars having lower. sections capable of swinging movement in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame, means serving to operably connect said travel bars with the upper sash whereby vertical movement of the travel bars serves to move the upper sash between closed and open positions, a pair of shoes slidably carried within the sides of the frame, connections between said shoes and the lowermost sash whereby swinging of the lowermost sash is accompanied by vertical movement of the shoes within the frame, the shoes having side portions disposed adjacent opposite edges of the travel bars, the lower ends of the travel bars being provided with shoulders serving to engage the lower ends of the shoes whereby when the lower sash is moved from closed to open positions, the'upper sash is simultaneously moved to open position, means serving to clutch one edge of each travel bar near the lower end of the same, with an adjacent side portion of the corresponding shoe, said means being disengaged by movement of the travel bar in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame, a spring carried by the other side portion of each shoe and serving to urge the adjacent portion of the travel bar in a direction to establish said clutching relationship, means carried by the frame and located above said shoes for automatically causing shifting movement of the lower sections of the travel bars in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame, to effect partial disengagement of said clutching means, said last means being operable automatically upon initial opening move ent of the lower sash and means serving we act disengagement of said last named means upon moving the lower sash to full closed position.

3. In a multiple sash window, a frame, at least two sashes carried by the frame for swinging movement, means serving to interconnect said sashes for a cycle of operation responsive to manual swinging of one sash, said means including a pair of travel bars slidably mounted in the sides of the frame and connected to one sash, a pair of shoes slidably mounted in the sides of the frame for longitudinal reciprocation therein and operably connected to the second sash whereby the shoes will move longitudinally of the sides of the frame when the second sash is operated, complemental clutching means on the travel bars and said shoes, means constantly urging said travel bars in a direction laterally of the frame to efl'ect engagement of said clutching means, complemental camming means on the frame and travel bars operating to automatically shift said travel bars in a direction laterally of the plane of the frame to condition the clutching means to maintain the same ineffective during the succeeding closing movement of the manually operated sash after a predetermined amount of initial opening movement of said sash.

TOMLINSON I. MOSELEY. 

